Thermostatically controlled electric heating appliance



April 1 1, 1939. J. .J. GOUGH 2,154,042

THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED ELECTRIC HEATING APPLIANCE Fild Sept. 18, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet 1 I April 9- J. J. GOUG'H 2,154,042

THERMOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED ELECTRIC HEATING APPLIANCE Filed Sept. 18, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 60 259; @a M @f Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT .OFFICE THEIIOSTATICALLY CONTROLLED ELEC- TRIO HEATING APPLIANCE Juries J. Gough, Chicago, IlL, to Chioago Electric Manufacturing Company, Chi- M, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application September 1:, 1031, Serial No. 104,510 15 Claims. (01. 210-25) 5 to the flat iron in response to variations in the temperature of said iron.

Thermostatic circuit controllers are particularly desirable in electric flat irons and in many other types of electric heating appliances such as electrical cooking and baking devices. These controllers usually include abi-metallic strip which changes in shape in response to variations in the temperature of the heated element and this change in shape is employed to operate a switch which determines the energization of the heating element.

Bi-metallic strips, even when supplied by the same manufacturer with nominally the same two metals in each strip, vary considerably in their response to temperature changes because this response isaffected to a considerable degree by extremely slight or minute variations in the thickness of the constituent strips, by the degree of purity of the two metals, and also by variations in the pressures exerted during welding of the constituent strips to each other.

Moreover, when such bi-metallic strips are ex posed to an abnormally high temperature, even for a short period of time, they become distorted in shape and do not return to their original shape when subsequently cooled. This distortion in shape destroys the adiustment of the thermostatic control device of which the bimetallic strip formsthe main part and in many instances renders such control devices substantially useless.

The difference in the co-eqcients of thermal expansion of the two constituent parts of a bimetallic strip suitable for use at the tempera ;ture ranges of an electric flat iron, as for example steel and copper or bronze, is relatively small, being between 25% and 30%. Such strips when employed in electric irons are necessarily short in length and it isaccordingly diillcult to obtain sumcient change in shape tov insure the requisite spacing of contacts when the circuit is open. A very delicate adjustment must be made at the time of manufacture to compensate for the variations in the original characteristics of such strips and this adjustment cannot be maintained even in normal use for the shape, of the bi-metallic strip is aflected by the pressure which in expanding it exerts against a cooperating part to open the circuit. Thispremureisusuallyapplied atan endportion of the strip in a direction substantially at right angles to thebody of the strip and the reaction to thispressure'therefore tends to distort the shape of the strip.

In order to alleviate these operating difliculties it has been proposed to space the strips of. different metals parallel to each other and to connect them rigidly at one end, the slight difference in expansion of'the two strips being amplified by a lever mechanism associated with the free 'ends of the strips. Because this requires pivot connections of the lever or levers to each strip, it 'is diflicult to avoid lost motion, and, in addition, the end thrust on one or both of the strips necessitates the use of much heavier metal than formerly. The original manufacturing adjustments of such devices cannot be made before the bi-metallic strips-have been fastened to the flat iron and the latter therefore interferes with the proper testing and adjusting of the thermostatic control device. In addition, the lost motion in the lever mechanism makes it diflicult to maintain the proper adjustment.

It is an object of my invention to eliminate and overcome the above recited and other defects and shortcomings of the known thermostatic devices used, or proposed to be used, for controlling electric irons and similar heating appliances.

Another object is to provide a thermostatic control device embodying a metallic member and a vitreous member the co-eilicient of expansion of which is much smaller than that of. the metallic member, as for example steel and a magnesium aluminum silicate, or like vitreous material, the co-efilcient of expansion of the latter being about one-third that of steel.

Another object is to provide a thermostatic control device. of the above stated character in which the vitreous member is always maintained under longitudinal compression to prevent any possibility of rupturing such member while the metallic member is always maintained under longitudinal tension so that a strip of very thin metal will suilice.

Another object is to amplify without lost motion the relative movement of the metal and vitreous members of the thermostatic control device.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a compact and inexpensive thermostatic control device for electric irons or like heating applimostatic control device; to provide simple and effective resilient means for maintaining the several parts in proper operative relation; to provide simple, readily accessible means for adjusting the thermostatic control device for response to different desired temperatures; to provide a thermostatic control device in which the above described members and associated parts, together with a switch actuated thereby, may be assembled as a unit for testing and adjusting prior to attachment to the flat iron or other heating appliance with which it is to be used; to provide an electric heating appliance in which the temperature responsive members of the thermostatic control device are disposed quite near to the operative face of the heat applying member and in which the heat applying member supports both end portions of the temperature responsive members; to so shape the temperature responsive, metallic member that a quite thin strip of metal possesses suflicient rigidity and may form a protective housing for the temperature responsive, vitreous member and to provide a pressure or clamping plate of such construction that when assembled upon the sole plate of an electric flat iron it will form therewith a protective housing for the thermostatic control device.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, vertical section through a thermostatically controlled electric flat iron illustrating my invention, the control switch being shown in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the iron, certain parts being detached and others broken away for purposes of illustration.

plate the attaching bracket of the thermostatic control unit.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged, fragmentary view in perspective of the switch control lever of the thermostatic control unit.

Fig. 10 is a'transverse, vertical section taken along the line Ill-48 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary, transverse, vertical section taken along the line ll-il of Fig. 1.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, vertical section similar to Fig. 1 but showing the control switch in open position.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical section taken along the line l3--I8 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectional view of the right-hand portion of Fig. 12.

As shown in Fig'. 1 of the drawings, the embodiment selected to illustrate the invention comprises a heat applying member or sole plate 16, a heating element i8, a pressure or clamping plate 20, a thermostatic control unit 22 embodying a switch control unit 24, electric terminal means 26, a cover or shell 28, handle means 88, an adjusting device or control means 32 and an indicator or dial 34 associated with the adjusting device.

The heat applying member or sole plate 15, as best shown in Fig. 4, is of conventional shape and is provided with a peripheral flange 38, from which extends a plurality of lugs 38 for positionventional construction providing longitudinalslots or openings 46 and 48 to receive the thermostatic control unit 22. This heating element preferably comprises a sheet of suitable insulating material such as mica or the like 58 of a shape conforming to the shape of the sole plate and having vertical notches 52 in the edges thereof and transverse grooves 54 in its upper and lower faces. A suitable strip of conducting material 56 having the requisite resistance is wound about the sheet 50, within the notches 42 and grooves 54, and is connected, in a manner later to be described, to a switch 24 and the terminal means 26. The heating element I8 is mounted upon the upper surface of the sole plate [6 within the peripheral flange 38, is insulated from the sole plate by suitable sheets 58 and BD-(Fig. 1) of any desired insulating material, and is secured thereto by the clamping plate 20 and'by suitable fastening means such as screws 62' (Fig. 1) pass ing through suitable openings in the clamping plate and the heating element and received in suitable ones of the threaded openings 40 in the sole plate.

The clamping or pressure plate 20 (as best shown inFig. 6) comprises a base plate 64 of a shape similar to the sole plate and of a size to fit within the peripheral flange 86 of the .sole plate. This clamping plate is provided with openings or slots 66 and 68' similar to the openings 48 and 48 in the heating element l8 to receive the thermostatic control unit and an integral, upwardly extending body portion 10 having side walls I2 and 14 extending upwardly from the sides of the slot 6.6, and a top wall 16 having an extended portion 18 overlying the opening 88. This channel-shaped body portion 10 forms, with the channel 42 and sole plate It and the openings 48 and 66 in the heating element and the base 64, respectively, a housing for the thermostatic control unit 22.

The thermostatic control unit 22, as shown herein for purposes of illustration, comprises temperature responsive members and 82, the member 80 being a thin strip of metal, preferably steel, bent to form side walls 84 and 86 and a bottom wall 88 providing a channel-shaped, partial protective housing for the temperature responsive member 82, which is of any suitable vitreous or ceramic material, preferably a magnesium aluminum silicate having a co-efllcient of expansion in the range of 20-100 C.1.88 l0- 20-600 C.2.76 10- and consisting chiefly of cordierite crystals (2MgO2Al:Oa-5Si0z) and commonly known as Alsimag 202.

The vitreous member 82 is preferably tubular in form and is supported at one end by a plug 90 having a head 92 fitting into the internal bore of the vitreous material, a shoulder 94 against which the rear end of the tube abuts. and a threaded shank 96 received in a threaded opening 98 of a bracket orother suitable supporting means )0, best shown in Fig. 8.

The supporting means or bracket I" may be of I any desired or. suitable form but preferably comprises a topportion I02, depending legs or v walls I04 and oppositely directed laterally extending fianges".l00. .'In addition the supporting means or bracket I00 includes a depending leg or extension I00 in which is located the threaded opening 90 and a forwardly projecting foot or flange H0. The bracket or supporting means I00 is securedto the upper surface of the heat applying member or the sole plate I0 in any suit able manner, as for example by screws passing through openings provided in the flanges I06 through alined openings provided in the foot H0 and the rear end portion of the member 00. It will be seen from Fig. .5 that the walls 04, 00 and 00 of the metallic temperature responsive member 00 cooperate to form a housing for the vitreous, temperature responsive member 02, thereby protecting said member against ,breakage which might otherwise occur during assembly of the thermostatic control unit in the heating appliance or iron with which that control is to be associated,

Motion amplifying. means is provided as a part of the thermostatic control unit and this means preferably comprises a lever II2 having an arm H4 and an arm IIO extending substantially at right angles to the arm H4. The free end portion of the arm II4 is reduced in width as at H0 and is received within a transverse slot I20 (Figs. 1, 12 and 13) formed in the bottom wall 00 of the metallic, temperature responsive member 00 adjacent the free end of said member. The reduced portion H0 is provided with a transverse recess or groove I22 to receive the forward edge I24 of the slot I20, the thickness of the edge I24 being slightly less than the width of the groove I22 in order that the lever II2 may pivot about that edge. 1

The arm H4 in its rear face and between the reduced portion Ill and the arm H0 is provided with a frusto-conical groove or recess I20 adapted to loosely receive the frusto-conical end portion in of a plug m having a cylindrical the arm 4 is maintained inengagement with the edge I24 of the slot I20 and the plug I00 which forms a fulcrum for the lever is maintained in engagement therewith within the groove I20. This means comprises a strip I00 ofspring steel or the like having a foot I00 fixedly seeured to the base 00 of the temperature responsive member an as by a bolt m, an upstanding leg inand a forwardly projecting arm I44 overlying and engaging the arm I I0 of the lever II2 at an intermediate point in order to, applythereto a a The switch control unit 24 which forms a part is first riveted at one end to the foot III of the force constantly tending to rotate the lever in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figs. 1, 5 and 12.

of the thermostatic control unit 22 may be of any suitable construction, and preferably comprises a pair of spring contact blades I40 and I40 insulated fromeach other, from the top I02 of the bracket I00 and from the clamping bolts I00 by strips of any suitable insulation I02, I54

v and I00, and insulating bushings I00 and I00, as

best shown in Fig. 14. Wire receiving terminals for the switch blades I40 and I40 are provided by terminal blocks I02 and I04 interposed between the blades I40 and I40 and the strip of insulation I04, these terminal blocks being Dmvided with suitable, laterally projecting wire receivin lugs I00 and I00, as best shown in Fig. 5.

The blade I40 constitutes the normally stationary but adjustable contact of the switch, while the blade I40 constitutes the normally movable blade of the switch which is operated by the lever II2 to make and break the circuit through the switch. The free end of the blade I40 extends beyond the blade I40 and carries a button I10 of suitable insulating material adapted to operatively engage the protuberance I12 formed at the free end of the arm III of the lever I I2. The blade I40 at its free end carries a similar insulating button I14 which constantly engages the adjustcribed, constitutes an integral part of the clamp-- ng or pressure .plate 20, and passes outwardly of the shell 20 through a suitable opening I00 provided therein. The manually operable knob is, or may be, provided with a suitable radial projection, protuberance or the-like to form a pointer adapted to cooperate with the dial 04, which (as shown for purposes of illustration) comprises a suitable disk seated in a circular recess provided in the shell 20 about the opening I00 and carrying on its upper face suitable indicia such as shown in Fig. 3. The disk may be secured to, the

' the opening I00.

The handle means 00 may be of any conventional or preferred construction. As shown, this means comprises a handle I04 and handle supporting'strips I00 secured to the shell 20 and the pressure or clampins' plate 20 by any desired fastening means such asscrews I00.

The electric'terminal means 20, by-which current is supplied to the iron, may be of any well known construction comprising the usual guard I00-secured to the shell 20 and prongs I02 extending into the guard I00 and supported on a plate I04 secured to, the extended portion 10 of the body portion 10 of the clamping plate in a suitable manner, as by the rear screw I00.

The internal circuit for the electric iron is not shown, the same being conventional. It will sufflce to state that one end of the wire 00 of the heating element I0 is connected directly to one of the prongs I02 while the other end of this wire is connected to one of the lugs. I00 and I00 of the switch .24, the other one of these lugs being connected to the otherterminal prong I02. The thermostatic control unit 22 embodying the switch control unit 24 is assembled as follows. The metallic temperature responsive member 00 bracket I l and the vitreous temperature responsive member 82, in which the end plugs 90 and I have previously been inserted, is then placed in position within the member 80, the screw threaded portion 96 of the plug 90 being threaded into the leg I08 of the bracket I00. The switch control unit 24 may then be assembled in its proper position on the bracket I00. The motion amplifying means or lever H2 is then placed in its proper position, as shown in the drawings, and the temperature responsive member 92 adjusted forwardly of the member 88 to cause the tip of the plug i3!) to seat properly within the frusto-conical groove I26 of said lever, and the protuberance H2 to be alined with the insulating button Ilil carried by the switch blade Md. The spring strip N8 is then bolted in position and the assembly of the thermostatic control unit being completed, suitable tests and adjustments may then be made of this unit prior to its attachment to the electric iron or other heating appliance with which it is intended to be It is to be observed that the thermostatic control unit, in assembled position within the electric iron, is fixedly supported at one end as by suitable fastening means fastened to the flanges of the bracket Mill and is slidably supported its other end within the depression or groove The operation of the flat iron or other heating appliance with which the thermostatic control unit may be associated is as follows. Current supplied to the heating element 58 through the switch blades i and N5 of the control switch by way of the lnternai circuit previously described. As the temperature oi the heat applying member or sole plate increases due to the action of the heating element, the temperature responsive members 80 and 82 of the thermostatic control unit expand linearly, the expansion or" the member 80 per degree of temperature rise being considerably greater than the expansion of the member 82 per degree of rise in temper:- ture. Accordingly the edge i24 of the opening ltd oi the member 80 will move to the left relative to the tip of the plug l3fl carried by the member 82 and the motion amplifying means or lever H2 under the action of the resilient means or spring I38 will be rotated clockwise about the fulcrum provided by the tip of the plug I30. The

clockwise rotation of the lever H2 will of course move the switch blade I48 away from the switch blade I48 and thereby break the circuit to the heating element.

As the heat applying member or sole plate cools, the temperature responsive member II will of course contract at a more rapid rate than the member 82 and the edge I24 of the opening III in the first mentioned member will cause the -iever H2 to be moved in a counterclockwise direction about the fulcrum provided by the plug I 30 against the action of the spring 'I. This will of course allow the resilient switch blade I48 to move upwardly into contacting engagement with the switch blade I45 and thereby reclose the circuit to the heating element. The temperature at which the switch will be operated to make or break the circuit will be determined by the adjustment of the adjusting device or means 32.

Clockwise rotation of the manually operable knob I18 (as seen in Fig. 3) causes theadjusting screw I" and "the switch blade I44 to be moved downwardly. The downward movement or the switch blade I40 will cause the corresponding downward movement of the blade I48 and it will thus be seen that the lever II! will have to be moved through a. greater angular degree in a clockwise direction to move the blade I48 out of engagement with the blade I46. With the manuallyoperable knob I18 in its off position the switch blade I48 will be in its extreme upper position, in which position it cannot be engaged by the blade I48 and accordingly the circuit to the heating element cannot be completed.

It will be seen from the above description that applicant has provided a particularly simple, compact and efficient thermostatically controlled electric heating appliance embodying a metallic member and a vitreous member with different co-eflicients of expansion, the former member being maintained under longitudinal tension and the latter under longitudinal compression.

Changes maybe made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. In an electric heating appliance having a heat applying member, a heating element, a supply circuit for said heating element, and a thermostatic control device comprising linearly expansible metallic and vitreous members having dissimilar coefllcients of expansion, means for detachably securing corresponding ends of said metallic and vitreous members against movement relative to the heat applying member, the oppo site ends of said metallic and vitreous members being shiftably supported on said heat applying member, means for controlling the energization of the supply circuit, and means responsive to the dilierence in expansion of said metallic and said vitreous members for actuating said control means.

2. In an electric heating appliance as defined in claim 1, in which means are provided for adjusting said controlling means to predetermine the temperatures at which the means responsive to the difierence in expansion of said metallic and vitreous members may actuate said control means.

3. In an electric heating appliance having a heat applying member, a heating element and a supply circuit for said heating element, a thermostatic control device comprising metallic and vitreous members having dissimilar co-efllcients of expansion and disposed in proximity to the heatapplying member, means for fixedly securing one end of each of the metallic and vitreous members relative to the heat applying member, the other end of eachof said metallic and vitreous members being shiftably supported on said heatapplying member, shiitable means operatively associated with the other ends of the metallic and vitreous members and responsive to the difference in ex-- pension of said members, and circuit control means operated by said shii'table means for controlling said supply circuit.

4. In an electric heating appliance having a heat applying member, a heating element, a supply clrcuit to said heating element, and a thermostatic control unit comprising linearly expandible metallic and vitreous member-shaving dissimilar co-emcients of expansion, means for fixedly seheat applying member and to each other, the opposite end of one of said members being shittably supported on said heat applying member, lever means connecting the corresponding end 70 curing one end of each of said members to said of the other member to said lastmentioned member and amplifying the relative movement of said members, and a switch actuated by said lever for controlling said supply circuit.

5. In an electric heating appliance having a heat applying member, a heating element and a supply circultto said heating element, a thermostatic control device comprising linearly expandible metallic and vitreous members having dissimilar co-eflicients of expansion, means for fixedly securing one end of each of said members to said heat applying member and to each other, the opposite end of one of said members being shiftably supported on said heat applying member, a lever connecting the corresponding end of the other member to said last mentioned member and amplifying the relative movement ofsaid members, a switch actuated by said lever means for controlling said supply circuit, and resilient means secured to one of said linearly expandible members and engaging said lever means for maintaining the latter in engagement with saidswitch and in engagement with said linearly expandible members.

6. In an electric heating appliance having a heat applying member, a heating element, a supply circuit for said heating element, and a thermostatic control unit detachably secured to said heat applying member, said unit comprising linearly expansible metallic and vitreous members having dissimilar coeflicients of expansi n, means for securing corresponding ends oi said metallic and vitreous members against movement relative to said heat applying member, the opposite ends of said metallic and vitreous members being shiftably supported on said heat applyin member, switch means for controlling said circuit, means responsive to the difference in expansion of'said metallic and vitreous members for actuating said control means and means for constantly maintaining said vitreous member under longitudinal compression and said metallic member under longitudinal tension.

7. In an electric heating appliance having a heat applying member, a heating element, a sup-. ply circuit for said heating-element, and a thermostatic control unit detachably mounted on said heat applying member, said unit comprising linearly expansible metallic and vitreous members 1 having dissimilar. coeflicients of expansion, means for securing corresponding ends of said metallic and vitreous members against movement relative to said heat applying member, the opposite ends of said metallic and vitreous members being shittably supported on said heat applying member, means for controlling the energization 01 said supply circuit, a lever fulcrumed on the vitreous member and operatively engaging the metallic member and said'controllingmeans to actuate said controlling means in to the difference in expansion of saiddnetallic and vitreous members and resilient means operatively engaging said lever for maintaining said lever in engagementwith said lever to constantly maintain" said vitreous member under longitudinal .compression and said metallic member under. longitudinal tension.

7 B. In an electric heating appliance having a heat applying member, a heatingelement and. a supply circuit to said heating element, a thermopandible vitreous member, a linearly expandible metallic member, said vitreous member being tubular and said metallic member being channelshaped to form a housing for said tubular vitreous member, said metallic and vitreous members having dissimilar co-emcients of expansion, means for fixedly securing one end of each of said last mentioned members to said heat applying member and to each other, the opposite end of one of said members being shiftably supported on said heat applying member, a switch control unit comprising a relatively fixed contact member and a relatively movable contact member, and a lever iulcrumed on the vitreous member and operatively connected to the metallic member, said lever having a free end portion adapted to engage the relatively movable contact member for controlling said supply circuit.

9. In an electric heating appliance" having a heat applying member, a heating element and a supply circuit to said heating element, a thermostatic control device comprising a linearly expandible vitreous member, a linearly expandible metallic member, said vitreous member being tubular and said metallic member being channelshaped to form a housing for said tubular vitreous member, said metallic and vitreous members having dissimilar co-efllcients of expansion, means for fixedly securing one end of each of said last mentioned members to said heat applying member and to each other, the opposite end of one of said members being shittably supported on saidheat applying member, a switch control unit comprising a; relatively fixed contact member and a relatively movable contact member, a lever iulcrumed on the vitreous member and operatively connected to the metallic member, said lever having a free end portion adapted to engage the relativly movable contact member for controlling said supply circuit, and a spring secured to the metallic member and overlying said lever for maintaining the latter in engagement with the movable contact member and in engagement with said linearly expandible members.

10. In an electric heating appliance having a heat applying member, a heating element and a supply circuit for said heating element, a thermostatic. control device comprising a linearly exstatic control device comprising a linearly expandible' member and a substantially non-expandible' membenmeans for fixedly securing one end of each of said members to said heat applying member and to each other, the free end of one of said members being shii'tably supported on said heat applying member, a lever loosely connecting the free end of the other member to said shiftably supported member and amplifying the relative movement of said members, a switch actuated by said lever for controlling said supply circuit, and resilient means acting upon said lever for, maintaining the latter in operative relation with said expandible and substantially non-expandible members.

.12. In an electric heating appliance having a heat applying member, a heating element and a supply circuit for said heating element, a thermostatic control device comprising a linearly expandible member and a relatively non-ex andible member, said expandible member forming. a 5 housing for said relatively non-expandible member, means for fixedly securing one end of each of said last mentioned members to said heat applying member and to each other, the free end of one of said members being shiftably supported on 10 said heat applying member, a switch control unit comprising a relatively fixed contact member and a relatively movable contact member, a lever iulcrinned on the relatively non-eapandible memher and operatively connected to the expandible member, said lever having a free end portion adapted to engage the relatively movable contact member for controlling said supply circuit, and a spring secured to the linearly expandible member and overlying said lever for maintaining 2c the latter in engagement with the movable conmember and in engagement with said linearly expantlible member.

13. an electric heating a heat ingelernent and r circuit for said heating element, a stati control device comprising a linearly en ible member a substantially non-exble member, each oi said last mentioned a lever iuiorumed e the su :stantially non-expandi- 1 oer and connected to the eapandible for amplifying the r lative movement of members, and means actuated by said lever .ior controlling said supply circuit 3;- in an electric iron, a sole plate having a longi udinaliy extending groove, a heating ele- 49 merit secured to said soie plate, said heating element having a slot therein in alinement with the groove in the sole plate, and a thermostatic control device detachabiy mounted as a unit on said sole plate, said thermostatic control device comprising a channel-shaped, linearly expansible metallic member extending through said slot and in said groove, a substantially non-expansible tube housed within said channel-shaped member, a bracket detachably secured to said sole plate 50 and secured to one end of said channel-shaped member, means for adjustably securing the corlance having a r responding end of said tube to said bracket, the opposite end of said channel-shaped member being shi tably supported within the groove in the sole plate, a lever fulorumed intermediate its ends upon said tube and operatively engaging at one end said channel-shaped member, and switch blades secured to said bracket and overlying said channel-shaped member and said tube, one of said blades operatively engaging the other end of said lever and actuated thereby in response to the expansion of said channel-shaped metallic member to disengage the other of said switch blades, said switch blades being electrically connected to said heating element to control the energization thereof.

15. In an electric iron, a sole plate having a longitudinally extending groove, a heating element secured to said sole plate, detachable means for clamping said heating element to said sole plate, said heating element having a slot therein in alinement r -th the groove in the sole plate, and a thermostatic control device detachably mount d as a unit on solelate, said thermostatic control device comprising a channelshapecl, linearly expansible metallic member extending through slot said groove, a substantially non-eapaiisible tube housed within said channelhaped member, a bracket detachably secured to s2 sole plate and secured to one corresponding end of rt, ogoposite end of said channel-sha vd member being shiitably supported Within t groove the sole plate, a lever iuicrunied intermediate its upon said tube and operatively engaging at one end said channel-shaped member, switch blades secured to said bracket and overlying said channel-shaped member and said tube, one of said blades operatively engaging the other end of said lever and said tube to saactuated thereby in response to the expansion of said channel-shaped metallic member to disengage the other of saidswitch blades, said switch blades being electrically connected to said heating element to control the energization thereof, and means carried by said clamping means for adjusting said switch blades to predetermine the temperatures at which the thermostatic comntrol device shall operate control the heating element.

JAMES J. GOUGH. 

